Flush valve



pril '7, 1 931.

W. H. SCHULTE FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 25. 41929 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM n. soHUL'rii, or TRENTON, NEW JERSEY FLUSH VALVE Application filed February 25, 1929.

This invention relates to flush tanks and valves and operating mechanisms for such valves.

Among the objects of the invention is augmenting the rigidity and efiiciency of the valve mechanism and its assembly in the tank and to the wall of the tank.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for expanding a portion of the mechanism in the handle hole in the wall of the tank for providing a tight lit of said portion therein.

With these general objects in view, the invention consists in the features, combinations, arrangements of parts, and details of construction which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmental elevational view of the inside wall of a flush tank, showing a portion of the valve operating mechanism;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken as on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is exemplified as applied to a flush tank having a wall, 10, with a hole, 11, through which the spindle, 12, extends. rhe spindle carries a handle, 13, on the exterior of the wall and is rotated by said handle to operate the valve. The spindle terminates within the tank in a reduced flat-sided end, 14;, on which a link, 15, is non-rotatably disposed and detachably maintained as by a cotter pin, 16, which extends through the Hat-sided end of the spindle. A ring link, 17, passes through an opening, 18, in link, 15, and an opening, 19, in the end of the short arm, 20, of the valve operating lever, 21. The lever is pivoted on a stud, 22, of a flange, 23, which has a hollow stem, 24, Jassing into the spindle hole, 11. The stem is non-rotatably secured in the hole and, to this end, may be provided with a plurality of sides adapted to engage with cooperating sides forming the surface of the hole. The valve operating lever is detachably secured to the stud as by a cotter pin 25.

The mechanism thus far described is of usual construction, In operation, manipula- Serial No. 342,625.

tion of the handle imparts an oscillation to the valve operating lever through the spindle and links, 15, 1'?, and the valve is operated by the lever through a connection, 26, on the end of the lever. The flush valve may thus be opened and closed.

' Diiiiculty has been experienced with this mechanism due to the fact that the stein, 24, is not held non-rotatably in the hole, either because of improper lit or as the result of wear in the hole. The result is that the flange, 23, turns, the valve operating lever drops and the flush mechanism becomes inoperative. Y

In order to obviate this defect, means are provided for expanding the stem, 211, in the hole. Although capable of various constructions, in the example herein shown, the means embody a threaded bolt, 27, extending through the hole and made hollow for the passage and accommodation of the spindle. The headed end of the bolt abuts against a washer, 28, on the exterior of the wall and a sleeve, 29, preferably tapered, is disposed on the threaded end and wedges against the inner surface of stein, 24, also preferably tapered. Tightening of the bolt causes travel of the sleeve therein and expansion of the stein against the inner wall of the hole. The stem may be split, so that it is spread by the sleeve and expanded and wedged firmly in the hole. A collar, 30, may be positioned on the outer wall under the handle to conceal the bolt head and washer and to impart a finished appearance to the assembled apparatus.

In the assembly of the mechanism, the iiange, 23, is rst applied to the inner wall and the stem is spread in the hole by the bolt and sleeve. The collar is then added and the handle spindle passed therethrough and through the bore of the bolt. The links and valve operating lever are linally positioned in place and attached by the cotter p1ns.

lVhile the invention is described specilically in its application to flush tanks, 1t is to be noted that the construction may be used generally for securing a tight connection 1n a tank wall or other wall through which a valve or other connection passes.

lha-t is claimed is l. The combination with a wall having a hole therethrough and a valve operating mechanism, of a member forming a port of said mechanism having a hollow split stem extending into said hole, e hollow holtl within the hollow stem through which the spindle of the valve operating mechanism passes, a sleeve threaded on the bolt and adapted upon l tightening of the bolt to move to expand the stem outwardly against the surface of the hole.

2. The combination with zi wall having a multi-sided hole therethrough and :1 valve operating mechanism, of a member forming a part of said mechanism having a hollow,

split, multi-sided stem fitting in said hole,

e tapered sleeve in the hole, a hollow bolt in the sleeve on which the sleeve is threaded, and o handleoperated spindle in the bolt.

3. The combination with a wall having a multi-sided hole therethrough and e valve operating mechanism, of' a member forming e part of said mechanism having a hollow, split, multi-sided stem fitting in said hole, av sleeve in the hole, a hollow holt in the sleeve on which the sleeve is threaded, and a. handleopernted spindle in the bolt.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. SCHULTE. 

